EP1333238A2 - Device for improving the safety of an automatic gun - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a second emergency switch (3) connected in series with an existing emergency off switch (19), the contact (2a) of a firing relay (2) and a firing magnet (4) and controlled by a firing module switching unit (1) that also performs the function of monitoring several contacts and other monitoring and control.

Description

The invention relates to an armored and armed vehicle that consists of the usual parts such as drive motor, gears, wheelsets or chain drive, one Crew room and a housing that accommodates all internals and attachments, and one Weapon system composed, whereby MK and MG weapon systems in principle have electromechanical firing circuits. The invention can also relate to Ship guns and MKW on helicopters, airplanes and production guns Respectively.

When it comes to arming, the security of the firearm system with regard to firing is one fundamentally important function. In the event of faults in the safety circuits or the associated components, the unwanted triggering of a shot must go so far possible to be avoided. This applies to all types of machine gun armament, for example for the MK machine gun or the MG machine gun.

The firing of MK or MG takes place in a known vehicle via a relay controlled firing circuit. Part of this firing circuit are the signals of the Limit switch firing pawl, clamping cylinder in front, MK or MG selected, MK or MG safe, ammunition and shooting range setting. The MK also works the signal position of the ammunition feeder on the firing circuit.

All electrical limit switches involved must be used for the electrical firing of MK or MG and / or relays are closed. If a relay is defective, the corresponding one Safety circuit partially or even completely without effect. This error can be too lead to a considerable risk from triggering an unintentional shot.

The disadvantage of the existing solutions is mainly that the control of the Firing magnets of the machine gun via a high-current relay, the so-called Firing relay takes place. Despite the use of high quality components with increased Reliability can occur in the event of a defect in the firing relay or the upstream one Security circuit come to an unwanted shot. examples for Known errors are sticking of the relay contacts or sticking of the fire button.

The object of the invention is to ensure the safety of electrical firing devices for machine guns by inserting another switching element in the firing circuit as well as by building a second, independent and program-controlled Safety circuit parallel to the discretely wired safety circuit of the existing one Increase firing device. The existing equipment and technology is included preferably not replaced, but should be a double safety circuit be expanded.

This object is achieved by the characterizing features of Claim 1 solved. Further features emerge from the subclaims.

According to the invention, a second switching element is located directly in the branch of the firing magnet used by a second, independent control and monitoring logic controlled and switched in parallel to the existing, relay-controlled firing circuit becomes. The defect of a circuit or a fire relay no longer leads to this unwanted firing. Instead of a fire relay as a second switching element a semiconductor switch can also be used.

The advantages of the invention are that the failure of a firing relay as a component no longer leads directly to an unwanted shot. Since a second Monitoring circuit, which creates a double security, is installed, lead to errors in one of two existing paths no longer becomes a safety-critical one Weapons state.

• Beide Sicherheitskreise können sich gegenseitig sperren.
• Ein Halbleiterschalter (3) übernimmt das aktive Schalten des elektrischen Stroms durch den Abfeuermagneten (4). Das Abfeuerrelais (2) muß den Strom nicht mehr schalten, außer bei einem Defekt des Halbleiterschalters, sondern nur Führen, wodurch die Kontaktlebensdauer des Relais (2) wesentlich verlängert wird.
• Das Abfeuermodul (1) kann die Abfeuerung nur freigeben oder blockieren, jedoch nicht alleine auslösen.
• Der Leistungsschalter (3) liegt nur an der Betriebsspannung, wenn das Abfeuerrelais (2) durchgeschaltet hat. Ein Einschalten des Halbleiterschalters (3) ist somit nur bei
• angezogenem Abfeuerrelais (2) möglich, womit eine weitere Schutzfunktion gebildet wird.
• Ein Defekt im Abfeuerrelais (2) wird automatisch erkannt, dem Bediener angezeigt und die Abfeuerung über den Halbleiterschalter (3) gesperrt.
• Bei entsprechenden Einrichtungen kann der Halbleiterschalter mittels Prüfstrom und integrierter Überwachungsfunktion in die Überwachung der gesamten Abfeuerung Eine interne Überwachungseinrichtung (5) sorgt im Abfeuermodul für eine erhöhte Sicherheit der Schaltung. Neben der Überwachung der Sicherheitssignale des Relaiskreises (6) kann auch eine Plausibilitätskontrolle durch das Abfeuermodul vorgenommen werden. Damit kann überwacht werden, ob das Abfeuerrelais geschaltet hat, obwohl die Abfeuertaste (9) nicht gedrückt wird, was sofort als Fehler erkannt wird.
• Wegen der vorhandenen Programmierbarkeit (7) läßt sich das Abfeuermodul an andere Waffensysteme anpassen.
• Ein Datenbusanschluß (8) ermöglicht die Anbundung an übergeordnete Steuerungen.
• Durch Takten des Halbleiterschalters (3) kann der mittlere Stromfluß durch den Abfeuermagneten (4) eingestellt werden.
• Mittels Abfeuermodul (1) können auch Abfeuermodi, wie zum Beispiel Einzelfeuer oder Dauerfeuer, bis hin zur variablen Kadenz eingestellt werden.
• Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung sind in der Zeichnung schematisch dargestellt und werden im folgenden näher beschrieben. Es zeigen:

  Figur 1:

  ein Blockschaltbild der Abfeuereinrichtung

The following advantageous properties are present according to the invention:

• Both safety circles can block each other.
• A semiconductor switch (3) takes over the active switching of the electrical current through the firing magnet (4). The firing relay (2) no longer has to switch the current, except in the event of a defect in the semiconductor switch, but only guiding, which considerably extends the contact life of the relay (2).
• The firing module (1) can only release or block the firing, but cannot trigger it alone.
• The circuit breaker (3) is only connected to the operating voltage when the firing relay (2) has switched on. The semiconductor switch (3) is therefore only switched on
• activated fire relay (2) possible, which forms a further protective function.
• A defect in the firing relay (2) is automatically recognized, displayed to the operator and firing is blocked via the semiconductor switch (3).
• With appropriate devices, the semiconductor switch can be used to monitor the entire firing by means of a test current and an integrated monitoring function. An internal monitoring device (5) in the firing module ensures increased safety of the circuit. In addition to monitoring the safety signals of the relay circuit (6), the firing module can also perform a plausibility check. It can be used to monitor whether the fire relay has switched, even though the fire button (9) is not pressed, which is immediately recognized as an error.
• Due to the existing programmability (7), the firing module can be adapted to other weapon systems.
• A data bus connection (8) enables connection to higher-level controls.
• The average current flow through the firing magnet (4) can be set by clocking the semiconductor switch (3).
• The firing module (1) can also be used to set firing modes, such as single fires or continuous fires, up to variable cadence.
• Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawing and are described in more detail below. Show it:

  Figure 1:

  a block diagram of the firing device

In FIG. 1, a firing module 1 contains the blocks: semiconductor switch 3, Voltage monitoring 5, voltage converter 10, program-controlled logic and Evaluation circuit 11, control 12, display 13, input module 14 and bus driver 15. The circuit is supplied with vehicle mains voltage at connection 16. By means of a Programming interface 7, the programmable circuit 11 with programs be loaded and maintained. By means of the information interface 8 more higher-level controls and computers can be connected. Next to it is the existing fire safety circuit 6 with various contacts 17, for example the Signals "weapon on" and "weapon unlocked" and others represent, as well as the Fire button 9 and the fire relay 2 shown. Firing using button 9 and with effect on the firing magnet 4 is only possible if all contacts 17th are closed, the emergency stop switch 19 is not triggered, the relay 2 is energized including the contact 2a and the semiconductor switch 3 is turned on. The Limit switch signals 17 of the safety devices relevant for firing act not only on the conventional relay safety circuit 6 and thus on the fire relay 2, but are also connected to the opto-decoupled inputs 18 of the firing module 1 connected. A program-controlled logic 11 in the firing module 1 processes and links the safety signals 17, 18 independently of the existing relay circuit 6 and controls via a control 12 a power semiconductor switch 3, the Minus connection of the firing magnet 4 switches to ground. The plus connection of the Firing magnet 4 is from the firing relay 2, 2a and the emergency stop switch 19 connected.

Only when the firing magnet 4 is supplied with positive potential by the firing relay 2 also receives the control 12 of the circuit breaker 3 positive supply potential and can be switched on by the program-controlled logic 11. In addition must logic 11 unlock control 12 by means of a signal and also explicitly by means of control a second signal. An accidental activation by two To prevent connected control signals, the two control signals of the Logic 11 also have different logic levels. This can be used as additional security Firing module 1 also an additional relay 20 of the existing relay circuit 6 switch to also fire relay 2 of existing safety circuit 6 lock or unlock.

The presence of the supply voltage on the firing magnet 4 or on Semiconductor switch 3 is monitored by the firing module 1 to detect errors within the electrical fire device to detect. For the semiconductor switch 3 is preferably a version with internal monitoring is used. To adapt to the hardware environment and for error messages or operational readiness messages contains the firing module 1 a programming 7 and an information interface 8, for example a CAN bus interface.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

firing module

2

firing relay

3

Semiconductor switches

4

firing magnet

5

monitoring device

6

relay circuit

7

programmability

8th

Data bus terminal

9

Abfeuertast

10

DC converter

11

Evaluation switch (logic)

12

control

13

display

14

input module

15

Bus Driver

16

Connection

17

Contact (signal)

18

signal

19

Emergency switch

20

relay

Claims (15)

Device for increasing the safety when operating and firing a machine gun on a weapon system in general, in particular on a military vehicle with a cycling or chain drive and a drive for locomotion and a vehicle body for receiving and installing all components for the operation of the vehicle including one Vehicle crew and including a firing device for the weapon system with a safety circuit (6) for firing, consisting of a firing button (9), safety and locking switches (17), a firing relay (2) with contact (2a) and an emergency stop switch (19 ) and a firing magnet (4), characterized in that a second switching element (3) is connected in series with the emergency stop switch (19) and the contact (2a) of the firing relay (2) and the firing magnet (4) and the switching element (3) is controlled by a circuit unit firing module (1), which also functions f for monitoring several contacts (17) and for further monitoring and control (FIG. 1). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching element (3) is designed as a semiconductor switch. Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the firing module (1) blocks with the functions switching element (3), voltage monitoring and watchdog (5), power supply and voltage converter (10), programmable logic and evaluation (11), control and galvanic Isolation (12), display (13), input module and galvanic isolation (14) and data bus driver (15) contains. Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the firing module (1) contains a programming interface (7) for program input and maintenance, a control and information interface (8) for connecting, for example, higher-level controls, and a supply interface (16) for power supply , Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the safety switches (17) of the relay-controlled firing circuit (6) are connected by means of an interface (18) of the input module block and galvanic isolation (14) of the firing module (1) and are monitored for error-free functioning , Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the relay-controlled firing circuit (6) is enabled by means of the switch (20) which is controlled by the programmable logic block (11). Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the electrical voltage on the firing magnet (4) is connected to the firing module (1) by means of the connections (4a, 4b) and is monitored by means of internal connections and functions of the firing module (1). Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the relay-controlled firing circuit (6) and the firing circuit, which is composed of the components firing module (1), switch (20) and switching element (3), can mutually block, so that none Firing magnet (4) actuated. Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the firing module (1) cannot trigger firing by means of the firing magnet (4) alone, but can only release or block it. Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that a fault in the firing relay (2) is detected by means of monitoring in the firing module (1), is displayed to the operator and the firing is blocked by means of the switching unit (3). Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the switching unit (3) is included as a semiconductor switch in the monitoring by means of a test current and component-integrated monitoring as corresponding precautions. Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the firing module (1) additionally monitors whether, for example, the firing relay (2) has switched, even though the fire button (9) is not pressed, or whether an imperative operating sequence, for example ammunition feeders, is switched then unlock the safety lever and keep it to prevent unwanted firing. Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the firing module (1) contains a programmable unit which enables and facilitates the adaptation to different weapon systems. Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the switching unit (3) can be operated in a clocked manner in order to be able to set the average current flow through the firing magnet (4). Device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that firing modes such as single fires, limited continuous fires, can also be realized by means of the firing module (1).

Images